The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has announced plans to inspect environmental protection efforts at hundreds of firms across Vietnam.

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The Vietnam Environment Administration was asked to inspect facilities that caused pollution on the Bac Hung Hai Canal, Nhue, Chau Giang and Duy Tien rivers as well as other manufacturing facilities in Vietnam.

About 90 firms in the north will be inspected including Hanoi Beer Alcohol and Beverage JSC and Him Lam Company. The ministry will inspect 109 firms in the south including Thanh Le General Import - Export Trading Corporation, investor of the Song Than 1 Industrial Zone. It is estimated that only 14 firms in the central and central highlands will be inspected including Chu Lai Industrial Zone Infrastructure Development Company Limited. Danang will have 13 firms inspected.

Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation that caused the mass fish death in the central region in 2016 is not included in the list.

The total cost of the inspection is VND34.50bn (USD1.5m). It will come from the ministry and general departments' budget.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will deal with public complaints and disputes. The General Department of Land Administration was asked to carry out inspections on land use and management at economic and industrial zones in Thai Nguyen, Can Tho, Dong Nai as well as forestry firms in the Central Highlands.